Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!rochester!ritcv!ccieng5!jbf
From: jbf@ccieng5.UUCP (just being friendly)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: prisons
Message-ID: <226@ccieng5.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 6-Jan-84 21:24:11 EST
Article-I.D.: ccieng5.226
Posted: Fri Jan  6 21:24:11 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Jan-84 04:48:39 EST
Lines: 41

>   I think that many women who have been raped are in an "emotional" prison -
>   which "prison" is worse is probably not worth debating.  

Which "prison" is worse is hardly the issue.  That criminals can put a person
through hell is bad, but the law cannot prevent it, at least not without
interfering with our privacy to an extent I would find unacceptable.  That the
law would put an innocent person through hell is obviously under control of
the law.  It should avoid it as fervently as possible.

>   Haven't you ever been robbed or mugged? Have you ever heard of people saying
>   that it wasn't the loss, it was the sense of violation?  Rape is bad news,
>   and I feel sorry (and a little scared) that some people just find it a
>   *frightening* act.

As a matter of fact, I have been mugged.  I have been sexually assaulted.  In
both cases I suffered some physical damage(not serious, but considerably more
serious than the damage a minimal rape implies).  Big deal.

By the way, your article was the item closest to a flame I received.  My next
statement may prompt some more: if a person reacts to a rape, indecent exposure,
bad joke, or a gift of flowers with a mental breakdown, that is the weakness
of the victim, not the sole fault of the assailant.  Only in the first case has
the assailant actually committed an immoral act: he has rubbed a portion of
his skin against the skin of the victim without the victim's permission,
and has detained the victim for awhile.  If the rape was vaginal, risk of
pregnancy is also involved.

Note that while I may sound like I am blaming the victim, this is not in the
stereotypical way: the victim may have been absolutely blameless in the way
he was victimized.  The "feeling of violation", though, is a burden the victim
places on himself.

I will not use the fact that most people are raised to be good victims (don't
resist; your life is worth more than your honor) to excuse the extreme way
they react to such violations.  Then one would have to use the nurture of
the assailant to excuse HIS actions.

Enough said,

Azhrarn
...allegra!rayssd!ccieng5!jbf